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I have been asked to investigate how to make "a crystal stone the size of a tennis ball or a bit larger." low budget Answered

As part of a very low budget film I have been asked to research how to make a prop from the following specification

"We need a crystal stone the size of a tennis ball or a bit larger.  It can be any shape but it must have colour (real of illuminated)."

The reference has been given as a Copper Sulphate Crystal we are an a deadline for mid Feb so any help would be fantastic

I have added reference pictures also

All responses gratefully received

Regards Peter?

Tags:PropCrystal

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Burf
Burf

Best Answer 9 years ago

When I was a kid I used to grow sugar crystals, many of which were baseball size and almost any color I wanted. All it requires is supersaturated sugar water, some cotton string, food coloring and time.
Just google how to make rock candy and get started. Its almost ridiculously easy.

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peterwalsh66
peterwalsh66

Answer 9 years ago

Thanks very much for the message I will look into it how long would it take to grow a sugar crystal that size? we are on a tight timescale

regards Peter

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Burf
Burf

Answer 9 years ago

There are a lot of variables but if your solution is completely saturated and you use a very large mouth jar in a low humidity environment, you should have some good results within a couple of weeks, depending on how big you grow the crystal.

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peterwalsh66
peterwalsh66

Answer 9 years ago

Excellent will definatelly give it a go

Cheers Peter

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bivens55
bivens55

6 years ago

how do you make a big crystal

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skatattookid
skatattookid

9 years ago

you could grow a sugar crystal with an led in the center..that would look cool.

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peterwalsh66
peterwalsh66

Answer 9 years ago

thanks very much will have a go and see how it comes out

cheers Peter

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rickharris
rickharris

9 years ago

OK if you would be happy with something solid rather than clear - Get a lump of polystyrene - the stuff used for packaging or insulation. Available from your local DIY store

You can carve this with a hot knife (do it outside the fumes are unpleasant) or

You can carve it with normal hand tools- saws - files - sand paper - very easily and fast to the shape you want - then paint it with water based paints.

Its cheap as well. If you can find suitable packaging then free

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peterwalsh66
peterwalsh66

Answer 9 years ago

Thanks again Rick,

we are looking for something that can be illuminated so it looks like it has an inner glow as it it to represent a fuel cell which either can be fully charged (illuminated) or in various stages of charge.

So we might need to create a resin crystal which we can colour with various lighting perhaps

cheers Peter

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rickharris
rickharris

9 years ago

Believe me you will be FAR FAR better off moulding something in a clear or colored resin. You can get spherical candle moulds that will work for this.

If you can handle a solid color then colored plaster would work and be even cheaper.

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peterwalsh66
peterwalsh66

Answer 9 years ago

thanks very much Rick that is the way that I am thinking also but I do not know how to do this either.

We are looking for something that looks like a crystal shape etc but is not actually a crystal so would welcome an instructable on how to fashion a fake/prop crystal also.

thanks for the response
Cheers Peter